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COMBINED TABLE AND WRITING DESK. No. 325,956. Patenteifiept, 8, 1 885.

v N PETERS, Mum-Lithographer, via-m m o. c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA W. Moonn, on NEW YORK, N: Y., Assre on on ONE-HALF TO HENRY sALoMoN, or sAM PLACE.

COMBINED TABLE AN D WRITING-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,956, dated September 8, 1885. Application filed April 4, was. (No model) To all whom, it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA W. MOORE, a citizen'of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of' New York,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Table and Writing-Desk, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a simple and efficient writing-desk top, stationery-rack, and to inkstand-cell under thetable-top proper,which is hinged to the supporting-stand suitably for being raised up and for remaining in an up right position, where it serves thepurpose of the ordinary pigeon-hole top while the desk is in use, the said contrivance being suchthat the writing-desk top assumes an inclined position when the table-top is raised to use the desk, and the contents of the stationery-rack and the inkstand are inclosed and securely retained when the device is adjusted for a table, all as hereinafter fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my ha '25 proved combined table and writing-desk as adjusted for writing purposes. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same, also as adjusted for writing purposes, and with some parts in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the top of said combined table and writing'desk on line 00 90 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a section ofa portion of said top on line y y, and Fig. 5 is a plan View of the top.

On any suitable stand,consisting of the column a, or a tripod or other equivalent sup port, and a permanent top, b, thereto, I hinge the table top '0, about as shownthat is, about two-thirds, more or less, of the distance from the front, as used for the desk, and on the lower side or bottom to the back edge of the permanent top b at d, soth'at said top 0 may swing upright and come to rest a little back of the perpendicular on the hinges and against a thrust-bearing at e, or further downward along the column a, as at f,- and to the lower side of top 0, a little in front of the hinges d, I hinge the writing-desk top 9 at h, so that said desk-top, which also constitutes the door and bottom to the stationery-cham- 50 ber iwithin the table-top, will swing up with the top a or remain resting on top b when top c is raised up, according as they are fastened or locked together at j or not, and the desktop g is caused to rise into the sloping condition required for a writing-desk by the rise of the hinges h in consequence of turning on the axis of hinges d. The extent or pitch of this slope is governed by the distance of the hinges dandh apart. Besides theraising of the desktop in this manner to give it the requiredslope 6 for writing, the same contrivance gives said top 9 a backward and forward motion, which I utilize for making the table-top c self-locking when closed down, and unlocking when-raised,

by the application of a studhook, k, to the desk- 6 5 top g,and projecting intoa slot of the top I), to engage or disengage with the ledge Zat the end of the slot, as shown in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that the hook-stud is thrust under the ledge when the top 0 is closed down, and is withdrawn therefrom when the said top is raised up, the tops 0 and 9 being fastened together at j. When top a isclosed down, this automatic fastening secures the table-top to the stand-top b, to prevent any accidental upturning of the table-top when not required.

In the top b of the stand I make a pocket or cell, m, for a receptacle for the inkstand it when not in use, where it is safely secured until required, when it is to be removed, after beingreleased by the unfastening of the desktop 9, and placed on said top while in use.

At' 0, I prefer to arrange drawers in the chamber 2' of top a for pens, pencils, and other articles, and above said drawers I arrange shelves or racks p, of any approved form or contrivance, for holding paper, envelopes, and other articles for use on a desk. 7

At opposite ends of the chambem', I arrange transferringrollers q, carrying a long cloth 0 cover, 8, which is made to run from said roller onto the center portion, 15, of the table-top through slits u, concealed by the overlapping edges 12 of the border-frame 20, thus providing a shifting cloth cover having the exterior appearance of a permanently-fixed cover, butbeing adapted to present various different game-charts, as, or a plain surface on the top of the table, as desired, merely'by turning one of the rollers q according to the direction it I00 is desired to shift the cloth, said rollers having milled knobs 3 extending out through the sides of the table-top for the purpose.

A drawer, .2, may be arranged in the side of top 0, between hinges d and the roller q at the back of said top, where the space is not conveniently available for stationery, because of being too low down behind the desk-top, said drawer being designed for a convenient receptacle for chess-men, checkers, cards, and other devices used in playing games.

By hinging the table-top forward of the back edge the weight rests near the center of the base when the top is raised, so as to materially lessen the top-heavy thrust backward, and enabling a narrower foot-base to be used, besides the advantage of the back part reaching below the hinge-joints a distance which gives practicable support by the thrust-bearingf, for holding the top upright without undue strain on the hinge-joints, and without the use of stays or braces which are otherwise required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a combined table and writing-desk, the combination, with the top 0, having a stationerychamber between its upper and lower sides, and being hinged on the lower side, and about midway from its center to its back edge, to the back edge of the stand a b, of the desk-top g, hinged at its back edge to the lower side of the table-top, forward of the hinge-j oints connecting thetable-top and stand, and the thrust-bearingf, located below the top of the stand and relatively to the extension of the table-top back of the back edge of the top being adapted to be swung up and to rest in an upright position, said desk-top being adapted to be raised up automatically, and be supported in a sloping or inclined position, and said desk-top also having a sliding motion on the supporting-stand, and an automatic looking and unlocking catch, k Z, substantially as described.

8. The improved combined table and writing-desk consisting of thestand a b, the table c, hinged to the stand a b, and the writing-desk top hinged to the table-top, said stand a b having an ink -bottle receptacle, m, under the writing-desk top, and said desk-top and stand having a fastening device, 7c Z, substantially as described. V

4:. In a combined table and writing-desk, a chambered top for stationery, hinged to the stand forward of the back edge for self-support when set upright,said top having adrawer, 2, located back of the hinges and opening at the end of the top for access when the top is raised, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA WV. MOORE.

WVitnesses:

V. J. MORGAN, S. H. lVIORGAN. 

